Anchor



Oct. 9, 1962 ,1. CHURCHWARD ANCHOR Filed Jan. 22, 1960 Ja e4 Orurc/zward INVENTOR.

BY r f A77 RNEY United States Patent 3,057,318 ANCHOR Jack Churchward,976 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, Fla. Filed Jan. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 4,109 3Claims. (Cl. 114-408) This invention relates to anchors and isparticularly concerned with small craft anchors of lightweight, simpleconstruction, especially designed to meet the demands of economicmanufacture.

Small craft anchors are for the most part of a generally standard designincluding a main shank, transverse related fluke arms and flukespreferably pivoted for a limited oscillating movement with respect tothe shank. Such structures are usually of cast components, not only ofconsiderable more weight than required for the light crafts which theyare intended to secure, but such cast construction is expensive,requiring considerable capitalization for the molds and expensive as tothe cost of the metal cast.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an anchor ofequivalent efficiency and effectiveness as cast anchors, one which maybe manufactured without the high capital investment required for castingand one which eliminates both the weight and expense of materialscommonly required for cast anchors. In accomplishing this objective, thepresent invention provides an anchor formed of rod material suitablyshaped and welded together with stamped metal flukes which may be weldedto the fluke arm. Thus, the invention may be fabricated without the useof any cast parts and hence, without the capital investment of molds andwithout the high cost of the material of heavy castings. Other objects,features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following specification taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing.

The single FIGURE of the drawing constitutes a perspective view of thepresent preferred and commercially successful form of the presentinvention.

As indicated in the drawing, the shank of the present invention consistsof a return bent rod structure including substantially parallel shankbars united by return bend 11 at the upper or far end of the compositeshank formed thereby. Secured between the shanks 10 and precluded fromdisengagement therebetween by the return bend 11, is an anchor cablering 12, freely slidable within the confines of the composite shank.While the shank members 10 are substantially parallel, they convergeslightly to point 9 approximately two-thirds of the length of the shanksfrom the return bend 11 and there diverge to their terminal portions 13between which there is mounted a centrally apertured fluke bar block 14through which the fluke bar 15 passes and is freely rotatable.

The cross or fluke bar 15 is of rod material preferably similar to thestock rods 10 and may, for convenience, be of a like gauge therewith. Itwill, of course, be understood that while the invention is not limitednor confined to the materials of the rods 10 and 15, they are preferablyformed of rigid and sturdy but lightweight material and may be of steel,aluminum or such alloys as fulfill the requirement for strength withoutoverburdening the anchor as to weight. Fluke plates 16 are preferablyformed of stamped rigid material and are preferably of conventional,generally triangular formation, being provided with right-angularlyturned lips 17 at their inner edge to enhance their rigidity and tocooperate in engaging subsurface soil to restrain the anchor movement.The base portions 18 of the flukes are Welded as at 19 to the fluke rod15 after the rod has been passed through the aperture 20 of the block14. Thus, the assembly may be completely fabricated from rods andstampings without the requirement of any cast parts and at a minimumfabrication expense as well as minimum cost of materials.

For restraining the pivotal movement of the flukes and the fluke bar towhich they are welded, a limit pin 21 is provided, bridging the fluke16' and passing between the lower diverging portion of the shank rods10, closely adjacent the block 14. One feature of the invention is thefact that the limit pin 21 may be readily fracturable so as toconstitute a shear pin whereby, upon excessive strain on ring 12 by theanchor cable when the flukes may be fouled under a subsurfaceobstruction, the pin 21 may be broken to permit the fiukes to turnbeyond the otherwise normal limit to permit withdrawal of the anchor. Itwill, of course, be understood that after shearing of the pin 21 forrelease of the anchor, the bar may be readily replaced as by reweldingat the ends 22 on the face of the fluke plates.

A further feature of the present invention is the angular turning of theends 23 of the fluke bar so as to provide for the engagement of suchends with the subsurface in order to orient the flukes in an appropriatedirection for engagement with the subsurface to secure the anchor. Theends being disposed in a plane normal to the plane of the fiukes.Terminal buffer balls 24 of rubber or the like may be applied over theends of the fluke bar to resist wear and to preclude damage to decksurfaces and the like where the anchor may be disposed when not in use.

In operation, it will be noted that the ring 12 is slidable between thestock rods 10. Hence, additional means is provided by which the anchormay be released should it become engaged beneath a subsurfaceobstruction. Should the flukes be so lodged a slackening of the anchorcable will permit the ring 12 to slide downwardly between the stock rods10 to a position adjacent the block 14. Tension on the ring 12, while inthis location adjacent the block 14, will permit the flukes to bewithdrawn from under an obstruction, thus releasing the anchor withoutnecessity of shearing the pin 21.

While the present invention is here shown in one of its commerciallysuccessful adaptations, it will, of course, be understood that theinvention is not specifically limited to the details of construction orthe materials here suggested and that in the practice of the inventionnumerous changes, modifications and the full use of equivalents may beresorted to without departure from the spirit or scope of the inventionas outlined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An anchor of the character set forth including a shank formed of asingle rod having a return bend and spaced side rods, and anchor cablering encircling said rod and freely slidable thereover, a fluke rod, afluke rod block welded between the ends of said shank rod and pivotallyreceiving said fluke rod therethrough, stamped metal flukes welded tosaid fluke rod on either side of '3 said fluke block, the terminal endsof said fluke rod being turned at opposite right angular relation to lienormal to the plane of said flukes.

2. An anchor including a shank, a pivoted cross bar on said shank,flukes welded to said bar to pivotally move therewith with respect tosaid shank, said cross bar having ends bent at 90 opposite one anotherperpendicular to said flukes, and means between said flukes limiting thepivotal movement of said bar and fiukes.

3. An anchor as set forth in claim 2, in which said means includes a pinwelded between the flukes determining the greatest possible angle offluke in relation to said shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent

